Daytrip Edventure

The Memory Master celebration continued when we took a daytrip to Edventure, a children's museum.  The kids had a blast and they wore themselves out.  Both of them fell asleep on the drive home. I was glad for that.  On the two and a half hour trip to the museum, I let Jacob have "control" of the radio.  Can you guess what we listened to ?  Yep.  The Classical Conversations memory work cd's.  On the way home, I declared our car a CC-free zone.  Jacob agreed to my terms and promptly fell asleep, but not before singing the presidents song. Of course, Annabelle sang along.

If you Give a Mouse a Cookie

Planting a garden

If only this cookie was real...

The firetruck and firestation was a favorite for both of them.  Check out Annabelle's form as she "slides" down the pole. 

He did it!!

• The entire timeline of 160 events from creation to modern times
• Twenty-four history sentences about U.S. history, including the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights
•  Twenty-four science questions and answers covering human anatomy, chemistry (including the first twelve elements in the periodic table by number and mass), and origins
• Skip counting through the fifteens, plus squares and cubes, conversions, and math laws
• All fifty states and their capitals, plus seventy physical features on the U.S. map
• Twenty-four definitions or lists from English grammar
• Latin vocabulary lists and John 1:1-7 in Latin and English
• The forty-four U.S. presidents

Pretty impressive list of information, right?  Even more impressive, Jacob knows it all.  Five year old Jacob.  He knows the answer to every single question.  He can tell you the 160 timeline events without missing a beat.  Ask him to recite John 1:1-7 in Latin, and he'll happily do it.  Ask him about catastrophism.  He'll fill you in.  Ask him to name the parts of the digestive system, and he'll give you a list.  He can show you Puget Sound, Death Valley, the Sonoran Desert, and the Red River on the U.S. map.  He can skip count the thirteens and tell you about the associative laws for addition and multiplication.  The child is a marvel.  There is no other word.

A few weeks ago, Jacob was officially named a Memory Master and I couldn't be more proud.  :)  In Classical Conversations, the ultimate challenge for each student is to become a Memory Master.  To be a Memory Master, the student must demonstrate that he/she has mastered all the information learned during the year.  He recited all the information to me, then a few days later, Heath quized him on everything.  A few days later, he recited all the information to his tutor, then the CC director, who officially named him a Memory Master.  Yay!!

During the last couple weeks leading up to his final review, I was a wreck.  I had that same anxious feeling I used to get before a big college exam.  Jacob seemed unfazed about the whole thing.  He knew all the information and learning it was fun for him.  He loves listening to his CC cd's and loves reading through the history sentences, etc...  Evenso, I felt compelled to make him review a lot more than usual.  I probably got on his nerves.

The thing is, learning is fun for him.  He loves it.  He loves CC.  The week before he became a Memory Master, if we were in the car, you can bet we were listening to that CC cd.  After it was all over, I was never so happy to listen to something else; however, Jacob and I had differing opinions.  He still wanted to listen to the CC cd.  Even now, several weeks later, he asks to listen to it and begs me to quiz him on all the information.  He just can't get enough.

Heath and I are super proud of him for earning the Memory Master title.  After quizzing him one night, Heath walked up to me with a look of amazement.  "I feel inferior to my five year old," he said. "He knows more than I do."

The night after the Memory Master testing, we went out for a celebratory meal.  Jacob chose the restaurant -- Sonic.  "Sonic is a good place for celebrating, " he said. 

We also rewarded him with (what else?) LEGOS.  He got to choose whatever he wanted from the LEGO store when we went to Virginia a few days later.  It was a happy day indeed.  Congratulations Memory Master Jacob!  You did it!! 

building minifigures at the LEGO store

Ready to build!!

Dance Dance Dance

Last week, at CC, Jacob learned about Tchaikovsky.  That morning, the class listened to several pieces of music by the great composer, including a few from The Nutcracker.  As they listened, one little girl couldn't contain herself.  She had to get up and dance.  I smiled as I watched this little ballet dancer perform for us -- so beautiful, so graceful -- and I couldn't help but think of the contrast between her ballet dancing and the sort of "dancing" that happens at our house. 

Nope.  No ballet at our house.  It's more like...breakdancing.  In any case, it's fun and Jacob and Annabelle both make me laugh with their "signature" moves.  You know Jacob is getting serious with his dancing when he disappears from the room and returns wearing a backwards baseball cap.  I love that kid.

Maybe Annabelle will want to take ballet at some point, but for now, I think she'd rather roll around on the floor, do flips off the side of the sofa and jump off the coffee table...all while wearing a Tinkerbell dress.  That's my girl.

That's Not On My List

How long is your "to do" list?  Mine is long and ever growing.  I have all sorts of tasks to be done -- finish painting the living room, paint the kitchen, go to the grocery store, get better organized (that's monumental), decide what to cook for dinner, vacuum, clean the bathrooms, mop the floor, try out all those super cool pinterest ideas, etc...etc..etc...you know...the usual stuff.  But, I can tell you, one thing not on my list -- surgery. 

I went in for a regular doctor visit and came out with a scheduled surgery.  Just a little unforeseen bump in the road.  I was instantly reminded, I am weak, but HE is strong.

It was just an outpatient surgery, but still...it was surgery.  I would check in at the hospital before daylight and be home by mid-morning.  That's not so bad, right?  Still, it was surgery.  And it was not on my calendar.  Reluctantly, I penciled it in.

I think God throws these little trials at us for a reason.  Just when things seem to be going right, just when you think you have everything under control, He steps in and says, "No, you don't; but I do."  Life's trials bring us back to true dependence on God.  What else can we do, but trust Him, recognize His almighty power, and let go of the reigns.

The night before surgery, I explained to Jacob and Annabelle that I had to go to the hospital the next morning and that Nana would be coming over to stay with them until I returned.  They were both excited about Nana coming over.  Neither one of them seemed to care about my hospital visit...which was fine.  Of course, Jacob has a one track LEGO mind and the word "hospital" made him think of LEGO city.  "Mommy," he said.  "I need to get the LEGO ambulance because I don't have it yet and I'd really like to play with it........."  All I could do was laugh. 

So, I had surgery the next morning.  The anasthesia made me sick, so I ended up staying at the hospital a couple extra hours.  That wasn't on my list either.  I wasn't aware anasthesia can cause severe motion sickness.  Ugh.  But, other than that, all went well.

When Heath and I returned home later that afternoon, I went straight to bed.  When I finally ventured out of my bedroom and into the living room, my kids had two very different reactions.  Annabelle came over and sat next to me on the couch.  As she gently rubbed my arm, she said, "Mommy, I love you.  I hope you feel better."  To be so crazy at times, she is such a sweet-spirited, precious little girl.  She remained by my side for a while asking me lots of questions about why I was sick.  Then my mom joined us on the couch.  Immediately, Jacob said, "Nana, you better not sit too close to Mommy.  You might get what she's got!" 

It's been about a week and a half since this little incident and I am happy to report, I am doing and feeling fine and according to my doctor, as far as these things go, I ended up with the "best-case scenario."  Whew.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow........

While surgery was not on my "to do" list, I realize God had His hand in it.  He has His hand in everything.  I spent a lot of time meditating on this verse: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6  Easier said than done; especially if you are a first-class worrier like I am.  But life is so much easier when you can put this verse into action.  So.  much.  easier.  And not just with the big things, but with the small things.  With everything.

Swim Like a Fish

"I wanna swim like a fish!" Annabelle was excited about swimming lessons.  "Or Ariel," she said.  Jacob's enthusiasm was down quite a few notches from his sister's.  In fact, he wasn't interested...at all.

I kind of dropped the ball with swim lessons.  Jacob took lessons a couple years ago, but then we quit.  Remember this?  Yeah...Jacob wasn't thrilled about swimming then either.  With summer getting closer and closer and the warm temperatures we've had already this year, I figured it was about time I got my kids back in the water.

In my mind, I knew how this would go.  I had a very clear vision of me dragging Jacob to the pool, kicking and screaming, while simultaneously running after Annabelle to stop her from jumping into the water while she yelled, "I'm going to swim like Ariel Princess!!"  Oh boy.  Won't this be fun.

But...sometime between the point when I registered them for lessons and their first lesson, the tables turned. 

With Annabelle's sudden disinterest and Jacob's apparent change of attitude, I wasn't sure what to expect.  My earlier vision, which had been so clear, was now a bit muddled.  We got to the pool and Annabelle kept saying over and over again, with a big smile on her face like she was joking, "I'm scay-erd..I'm scay-erd."  "What?  Scared?  Noooooo, you're not scared.  Why are you scared?" I asked.  She never really responded with words -- just a big grin and a laugh.  So, I thought she was joking. 

I hung around for the first five or ten minutes of their private lesson before I realized me being there was not helping the situation.  Jacob was scared to death, but he was determined to conquer his fear.  He did everything the instructor asked of him.  He was crying and had a hard time catching his breath, but he blew bubbles in the water, dunked his head under, and stepped down further into the pool than his comort level usually allowed.  His sister, on the other hand, would not get into the pool.  She wouldn't even put her toe in the water.  Jacob tried to help her.  He was being so brave.  Through sobs and tears, he said to her, "Annabelle, you can do it.  Just step down here like me.  You have to be brave.  You can do it."  It was the sweetest thing.  Jacob grew up before my eyes, fighting his fear and trying his best to be a brave big brother.  Right before I left, the instructor managed to coax Annabelle into the pool and the three of them dunked their heads under at least three times.  As I walked toward the exit, I heard Annabelle crying, "I want to go back!  I want to go back!", meaning, she wanted to go back to the steps so she could get out of there.

I waited outside until the lesson was over.  Since this was the first lesson and both kids were a bundle of nerves, I promised them candy afterwards IF they tried their best and did what the instructor told them to do.  I couldn't wait to find out how the remaining 20 minutes played out. 

Annabelle greeted me at the entrance, her monkey towel wrapped around her and a huge smile on her face.  "I did it!" she yelled.  "I bwoed da (blowed the) bubbles!"  I was ecstatic.  "That's so good, Annabelle! I'm so proud of you!"  Annabelle seemed proud of herself, too.  She kept saying over and over, "I bwoed da bubbles!  I'm hungwy!", meaning, "I want my candy now!"

We walked over to the other side of the pool where Jacob was just stepping out.  He had a big smile on his face too, and he wasn't crying anymore.  The instructor said he did really well.  He did everything she asked him to do and she felt he had made some progress.  I felt good about that.  Then, I asked about Annabelle.  "Well, Annabelle refused to get in the pool," she said.  Annabelle looked at me and said, "I did it!  I bwoed da bubbles!"  The instructor corrected her.  "No," she said.  "You didn't even get in the water." 

As I helped my kids put on dry clothes, Annabelle kept smiling and telling me she blew bubbles, which she followed up with, "I'm hungwy!".  I said, "But your teacher said you wouldn't even get in the water.  You have to get in the water to blow bubbles."  Annabelle quickly replied, "I know!  But I'm just pwetending I did it!" 

She did not get candy.

They've had two lessons since then.  The end of the second lesson was like deja-vu.  Annabelle greeted me, telling me all about how she blew bubbles in the water...only this time...it was true.  And she was very happy to eat her well-deserved snack in the car on the way home.    Jacob's fear of the water is quickly vanishing.  Today, right before we left, he said, "I'm excited about swimming!"  Wow.  Definite progress.  I'm proud of both of them for trying their best!

Let Us Pray

Each morning, we begin our school day by saying the pledges, listening (and singing and dancing) to a song or two, then we read the Bible.  After our Bible story, we spend a few moments in prayer.  On this particular occasion, several LEGO men joined us in our prayertime, heads bowed, and eyes closed.  :)

LEGO Master

Jacob is a smart kid.  I often wonder what he will be when he grows up.  A preacher?  A musician?  The president? :)  I've recently learned his goals are much loftier than any of those careers.  He wants to be...get ready, folks...a LEGO Master.  Yes.  A LEGO Master.  That's what he told Aunt JoBeth when she asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up...without hesitation.  The truth is...I believe he already is one.

It's true he's a wiz when it comes to LEGOs.  And he can sit for hours building a single LEGO set without a single break.  The boy loves LEGOs.  If he isn't doing schoolwork, he's building with LEGOs or reading books (sometimes, books about LEGOs).  He lives and breathes LEGOs.  I asked him to clean his room the other day and when I went to check on his progress, I found him, instead, playing with LEGOs.  Likely story.  I confronted him about it and received this reply:  "Mommy, I am cleaning.  When I build with LEGOs, I am cleaning because I pick up LEGO pieces off the floor and put them on my creations."  Oh.  Right.  Ok. 

One of his latest completed sets is the lighthouse.  I'm having trouble posting the video, so CLICK HERE.  He's very proud of this.  He builds these things all by himself, rarely (if ever) asking for help.

A couple more projects: